Athelstan Museum

Malmesbury is a beautiful hilltop town on the southern edge of the Cotswolds, built to a Saxon road plan round a Norman abbey. Archaeological digs have shown there was a Neolithic fort here around 2,500 BC - people have lived here for four and a half thousand years, so Malmesbury may be the oldest town in the country.

This small local museum has an interesting tale to tell, full of lots of fascinating people: Athelstan, first king of all England; Eilmer, our flying monk of a thousand years ago; Thomas Hobbes, the famous philosopher; Walter Powell, the M.P. who vanished at sea in a hot air balloon - and lots more.

Artefacts on display include bicycles, a Roman coffin, wonderful pictures of the area and our renowned Malmesbury lace collection.

Venue Type:

Museum

Opening hours

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun 10.30-16.30

Admission charges

All Admission Free

Getting there

Malmesbury is situated just five miles north of Junction 17 of the M4 motorway. The museum is located within the Town Hall to the rear of the Tourist Information Centre, at the northern edge of the Cross Hayes short stay car park.

The Athelstan Museum is noted for its costume collection and exhibition of Malmesbury Lace and lace making.

Getting there

Malmesbury is situated just five miles north of Junction 17 of the M4 motorway. The museum is located within the Town Hall to the rear of the Tourist Information Centre, at the northern edge of the Cross Hayes short stay car park.

Website

E-mail

Telephone

Museum

01666 829258

Website Admin

01666 829258

All information is drawn from or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.